So...home invasions.

[Bernzz]

I am thankful that I am a registered and licensed concealed carry. After various, violent incidents in my past, I promised I would do everything I could to make sure it would never happen again. I would have no trouble taking the life of someone who invaded my home. You violate my home and threaten me, you had better expect to pay the price. I'm not taking chances.

To hit and batter an unarmed woman. Pathetic.

Seriously?

Im my opinion if you end someones life it makes you just as bad as they are if not worse. After all murder is a greater crime than robbery and what youve done is essentially murder someone. I know these people are far from innocent but do you really want to lower yourself to their level

Perhaps im not cold hearted and a bit of a pussy but i say let them have what they want. Your life (or someone elses) isnt worth the material things you have in your house

So someone forces their way into your home (you in a general sense, not you specifically) with the intent on harming you, like in that video. You don't know if they plan to steal from you, rape you, kill you, whatever. They enter without your permission and they're violent.

Defending yourself (with a possible side effect of killing them, gunshots aren't always fatal) with a weapon is 'lowering yourself to their level'? Really? Really? Defending yourself is lowering yourself to the level of someone who does shit like the dude in the video did? The hell, dude?

Disclaimer: I'm not here to advocate concealed carry, or gun ownership in general. I just take issue with the way you worded that response.

Edit: I find it funny that your name is 'shoot the bandit'. Just, funny in an ironic way. 'cos bandits kill/harm to steal and all that shit.

 

[shootthebandit]

UPDATE: Great news! The offender has been arrested and named: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/caught_arrest_in_violent_home_invasion_mPMRjMFUSE2a1PGjYdVzgP
Shawn Custis faces charges of attempted murder, robbery, burglary and child endangerment. I would've thrown attempted rape in there too (if there is such a charge) but glad to see the law is going all-out on his ass. Even in prison he's going to be hated lol, not many inmates tolerate people who attack women like that.

Im assuming those charges will result in a big sentence in the USA. Over here in the UK he'd probably get 1-2 years good behaviour

Really the only situation is to give valuable stuff to the burgular. Its saves any conflict they are going to take it anyway and at the end of the day its only material goods and theybare replaceable a life isnt. Assuming you have home insurance you will get it back too

Fire arms should never be an option. I honestly hope this doesnt spiral into one of those incidents that the rightwing idiots use to defend guns

I know we'd all like to say we were a hero and defended our homes but its stupid and irresponsible. That guy was a big guy even an average fully grown man would struggle against him. You could always grab a knife from the kitchen but do you know how to use a knife in combat? Chances are you dont. You could get a gun but what if he has one too that he was only going to use as a last resort he would be more inclined to shoot first than you would. Also what if he got a hold of your gun then you have armed him

Edit: is it just me or did we used to have a better class of criminals a few years ago (honour amongst theives and all that). Hitting women and children was always seen as a no go for most criminals. Not thatbim saying crime was ever a good thing but it just seems those involved had a little more respect than they do now

Except when the criminal wants your life.

I don't know what part of the world you can live pleasurably with your head in your ass but criminals have never been like this. The only reason you seem to think there was ever an "Honor" in thieves is because they are usually young teens who do it for kicks, to be cool, or cause mommy didn't love them enough. That is what burglary usually is.

In legitimate cases of home invasion, or at least of cases in my state of Arizona, You are better off killing yourself before they beat, rape, then murder you. Their soul reason is to cause pain, to your wallet, to your family, and to you.

Where i live the only reason to break into someones house is to steal shit. Very few cases of people deliberately going into a house to beat or kill people unless they get caught robbing the house or they have a personal vandetta against said person. Its just to messy for your would be robber to brutalise someone. chances are they are just a junkie after their next score. They arent gonna go out deliberately to beat and kill someone

 

[loc978]

I'm glad no one has ever done that in my home. I'd kill them before the first punch was thrown and most likely go to prison for it... unless they actually backed down and surrendered or ran away at the sight of a drawn weapon, which would be my hope.

...and yes I'm always carrying around a weapon in my own home, usually a subcompact .45ACP handgun.

On the other hand, someone would have to hop a fence and kill my dog before they entered my home. I don't live anywhere near a city... and I really agree with gun control advocates about city living... there are entirely too many people who are downright terrified of guns in cities, and I try like hell not to let anyone know I have one for fear of causing a heart attack when I'm in a city and out of uniform.

 

[UltraPic]

Well I live in Britain, so if someone invaded my home, even if I had a weapon near me (knife, bat, club) I wouldn't be able to do anything. I'd pretty much have to let them in, make them a cup of tea and watch happily as they steal my most valued possessions, because anything else is assault and "unnecessary".

Learn what reasonable force means then, as long as you don't purposely kill or torture anyone you are fine.

 

[Mossberg Shotty]

I am thankful that I am a registered and licensed concealed carry. After various, violent incidents in my past, I promised I would do everything I could to make sure it would never happen again. I would have no trouble taking the life of someone who invaded my home. You violate my home and threaten me, you had better expect to pay the price. I'm not taking chances.

To hit and batter an unarmed woman. Pathetic.

Seriously?

Im my opinion if you end someones life it makes you just as bad as they are if not worse. After all murder is a greater crime than robbery and what youve done is essentially murder someone. I know these people are far from innocent but do you really want to lower yourself to their level

Perhaps im not cold hearted and a bit of a pussy but i say let them have what they want. Your life (or someone elses) isnt worth the material things you have in your house

Speaking from Texas, where everyone's armed to the teeth (and with good reason) you're living in a fantasy land. Are you saying that that woman shouldn't have killed that degenerate, poisonous fuckhead if she had the means to? Should she just hand over her two young children to the bastard because it would be wrong to "sink to his level"?

I'm sure the hollow satisfaction of being better than a soulless asshole will be small comfort.

 

[Axolotl]

Where i live the only reason to break into someones house is to steal shit. Very few cases of people deliberately going into a house to beat or kill people unless they get caught robbing the house or they have a personal vandetta against said person. Its just to messy for your would be robber to brutalise someone. chances are they are just a junkie after their next score. They arent gonna go out deliberately to beat and kill someone

That's nice, seriously good for you. It's good to live in a safe place, I live in a fairly safe place as well and I certainly like it. But not everyone does, and saying everyone should act like they do is cretinous. Now my house has never been broken into but I knew a guy when I was at Uni who did have a home invasion. He was from a country in West Africa and while he was at Uni he got informed that his house had been broken into. The home invaders had broken his brothers legs, shot his parent dead and raped his sister (who was a child) they hadn't stolen anything, they hadn't given any reason, they'd just done this (in front of the brother) and left. These things happen, maybe they don't happen to you but that doesn't make it any less insulting or idiotic to claim that people under threat of these things shouldn't do everything they can to defend themselves.

 

[ShiningAmber]

I am thankful that I am a registered and licensed concealed carry. After various, violent incidents in my past, I promised I would do everything I could to make sure it would never happen again. I would have no trouble taking the life of someone who invaded my home. You violate my home and threaten me, you had better expect to pay the price. I'm not taking chances.

To hit and batter an unarmed woman. Pathetic.

Seriously?

Im my opinion if you end someones life it makes you just as bad as they are if not worse. After all murder is a greater crime than robbery and what youve done is essentially murder someone. I know these people are far from innocent but do you really want to lower yourself to their level

Perhaps im not cold hearted and a bit of a pussy but i say let them have what they want. Your life (or someone elses) isnt worth the material things you have in your house

Seriously? Have you ever been the victim of a violent crime? I am not cold hearted. I am realistic, because I have seen it and been a victim of it. The only reason I am alive today was because of my ability to outrun the man who raped me and thought it would be a good idea to put a knife to me.

And who is to say that they would be after material things? You think I will stand there and ask them? You think someone who barges their way, trespasses onto my property, breaks the law would be honest with me in their intents? No, that's a foolish thing to think and thinking like that is weak. Thinking like that is what will you get you killed. I have no qualms about taking a life of someone who believes their life overrides mine. I'm not looking to fight or kill, but if you trespass into my home, blatantly break the law, I'm not standing around hoping that YOUR INTENT is merely to take material things.

I will happily assume the worst. It is not murder. It is defense. I will not stand around and hope that an intruder's intent is something is may not be. The last time I thought like you did, I lost something I will never EVER get back.

They forfeit their life when they barge through my door. Maybe one day, if you are ever the victim of a violent crime that leaves scars on your face and hands, you will understand. Maybe one day, when something is taken from you that you can never replace, you will understand. Maybe one day when there is a knife carving you up and a man intent to murder you, you will understand.

 

[Muspelheim]

The burglars have become more violent and ruthless as of late. The Swedish law haven't quite kept up. You can very well land yourself a harsher penalty than the criminal himself. But I can't say I really worry anymore. The self defense laws are well meaning but faulty, and I won't put my life at risk because of that. If anyone would break into my home while I'm in it and not leave, then I would do whatever it takes. Then, I'll take the consequences.

Of course, most burglars are still somewhat reasonable, at least the petty ones, the ones that does deserve the emphasis on rehabilitation that the penal system has. It's the gangsters and the proffessional criminals that are really dangerous.

Not entirely sure what I could, in all honesty, do, though. Precisely because those are proper crims, being violent wankers was what brought them there in the first place. I've got a crowbar. That's about it. I'll need to consider this... Educational experience, this thread.

 

[shootthebandit]

I am thankful that I am a registered and licensed concealed carry. After various, violent incidents in my past, I promised I would do everything I could to make sure it would never happen again. I would have no trouble taking the life of someone who invaded my home. You violate my home and threaten me, you had better expect to pay the price. I'm not taking chances.

To hit and batter an unarmed woman. Pathetic.

Seriously?

Im my opinion if you end someones life it makes you just as bad as they are if not worse. After all murder is a greater crime than robbery and what youve done is essentially murder someone. I know these people are far from innocent but do you really want to lower yourself to their level

Perhaps im not cold hearted and a bit of a pussy but i say let them have what they want. Your life (or someone elses) isnt worth the material things you have in your house

So someone forces their way into your home (you in a general sense, not you specifically) with the intent on harming you, like in that video. You don't know if they plan to steal from you, rape you, kill you, whatever. They enter without your permission and they're violent.

Defending yourself (with a possible side effect of killing them, gunshots aren't always fatal) with a weapon is 'lowering yourself to their level'? Really? Really? Defending yourself is lowering yourself to the level of someone who does shit like the dude in the video did? The hell, dude?

Disclaimer: I'm not here to advocate concealed carry, or gun ownership in general. I just take issue with the way you worded that response.

Edit: I find it funny that your name is 'shoot the bandit'. Just, funny in an ironic way. 'cos bandits kill/harm to steal and all that shit.

perhaps the way i worded it was a bit harsh but ending someones life is still ending someones life. Killing is something that is difficult even for soldiers to deal with so just imagine an average joe or josephine coming to terms with killing someone no matter how vile that human was.

like i said all incidents ive heard of the primary intent for breaking into someones house is to steal something. this is usually done at night or when a person is away. they have really fucked up if they happen to do it when someone is actually in the house. if you happen to be in they would most likely use force but if you were to fight back you are only making it worse for yourself as they now see you as a threat rather than an obstacle

i guess it just hasnt sunk in my brain how someone is deliberately doing this like in the video its just something that doesnt happen where i am, its just to messy for a burgular. I suppose in the case of this video lethal force would be a viable option (if you got a chance to use it) as the person deliberately set out to hurt you as long as you can come to terms with actually killing someone.

Off topic: i made that my username on PS3 when they first came out. i originally wanted bandit or the bandit (because i was obsessed with smokey and the bandit at the time) but they were taken and 'dont shoot the bandit' was too long so i just stuck with shoot the bandit because it sounded cool

 

[Kennetic]

And this is why I concealed carry. Yes, I do keep my gun on my person at all times, or within arms reach such as when I sleep or take a dump. FYI not wanting to live in the US because of home invasions is ridiculous as it's insanely rare but I'd rather not take the chance and just keep my Glock on me. I feel sorry for the mother and hope this bastard gets what's coming to him.

 

[Agayek]

Where i live the only reason to break into someones house is to steal shit. Very few cases of people deliberately going into a house to beat or kill people unless they get caught robbing the house or they have a personal vandetta against said person. Its just to messy for your would be robber to brutalise someone. chances are they are just a junkie after their next score. They arent gonna go out deliberately to beat and kill someone

No you don't. You think you do. There is a difference.

There are plenty of reasons to break into a house, anywhere in the world. None of them are nice and none of them are going to end well for the person who owns it.

It's abundantly clear from your posts that you have no idea how violent crime actually works. Yes, sometimes the robber won't brutalize someone for whatever reason. Sometimes they also decide that they want to beat their victim into chunky salsa because they get off on it. Saying that if someone breaks into your home, they won't ever brutalize you is just fucking stupid. It may not happen, you're correct in that it's not guaranteed, but why should the person that's innocent in all of it have to risk it?

If someone decides to violate the social contract, by definition, no one around them is obligated to continue following it. They give up the almost-guarantee of safety the instant they try to visit harm upon another. If their victim happens to be better at violence than they are, they deserve everything they get, whatever it may be.

Edit: This frighteningly pervasive attitude that the life and safety of our attackers is worth as much as our own is fucking atrocious and needs to stop. All it does is foster attitudes like yours that, in essence, promote violent-but-not-extreme crimes (home invasion, armed robbery, etc), just because "no one got hurt". It's fucking disgusting and should not be tolerated.

 

[shootthebandit]

1)The burglars have become more violent and ruthless as of late

2)most burglars are still somewhat reasonable, at least the petty ones

1) this is what i meant when is said "there used to be a slightly better class of criminal"
2) this is what i meant when i said most burglars have the primary motive to steal something and violence is only a last resort

im sorry if i offended anyone but violent robberies are something that dont really occur in homes where i am. violent robberies are more likely to occur in a shop rather than a home

I am thankful that I am a registered and licensed concealed carry. After various, violent incidents in my past, I promised I would do everything I could to make sure it would never happen again. I would have no trouble taking the life of someone who invaded my home. You violate my home and threaten me, you had better expect to pay the price. I'm not taking chances.

To hit and batter an unarmed woman. Pathetic.

Seriously?

Im my opinion if you end someones life it makes you just as bad as they are if not worse. After all murder is a greater crime than robbery and what youve done is essentially murder someone. I know these people are far from innocent but do you really want to lower yourself to their level

Perhaps im not cold hearted and a bit of a pussy but i say let them have what they want. Your life (or someone elses) isnt worth the material things you have in your house

Seriously? Have you ever been the victim of a violent crime? I am not cold hearted. I am realistic, because I have seen it and been a victim of it. The only reason I am alive today was because of my ability to outrun the man who raped me and thought it would be a good idea to put a knife to me.

And who is to say that they would be after material things? You think I will stand there and ask them? You think someone who barges their way, trespasses onto my property, breaks the law would be honest with me in their intents? No, that's a foolish thing to think and thinking like that is weak. Thinking like that is what will you get you killed. I have no qualms about taking a life of someone who believes their life overrides mine. I'm not looking to fight or kill, but if you trespass into my home, blatantly break the law, I'm not standing around hoping that YOUR INTENT is merely to take material things.

I will happily assume the worst. It is not murder. It is defense. I will not stand around and hope that an intruder's intent is something is may not be. The last time I thought like you did, I lost something I will never EVER get back.

They forfeit their life when they barge through my door. Maybe one day, if you are ever the victim of a violent crime that leaves scars on your face and hands, you will understand. Maybe one day, when something is taken from you that you can never replace, you will understand. Maybe one day when there is a knife carving you up and a man intent to murder you, you will understand.

i do sincerely apologise but im massively anti-firearms, the way i worded it was very harsh. i suppose as you have been a victim before it gives you a different perspective on things and i can honestly understand your reaction

 

[shootthebandit]

Where i live the only reason to break into someones house is to steal shit. Very few cases of people deliberately going into a house to beat or kill people unless they get caught robbing the house or they have a personal vandetta against said person. Its just to messy for your would be robber to brutalise someone. chances are they are just a junkie after their next score. They arent gonna go out deliberately to beat and kill someone

No you don't. You think you do. There is a difference.

1) There are plenty of reasons to break into a house, anywhere in the world. None of them are nice and none of them are going to end well for the person who owns it.

2) It's abundantly clear from your posts that you have no idea how violent crime actually works. Yes, sometimes the robber won't brutalize someone for whatever reason. Sometimes they also decide that they want to beat their victim into chunky salsa because they get off on it. Saying that if someone breaks into your home, they won't ever brutalize you is just fucking stupid. It may not happen, you're correct in that it's not guaranteed, but why should the person that's innocent in all of it have to risk it?

3) If their victim happens to be better at violence than they are, they deserve everything they get, whatever it may be.

1) of course
2) i wasnt saying that you wont get brutalized, what i was trying to point out was that most burglars are just trying to steal something and will only brutalize you if you happen to get in their way like i said if you fight back you become a threat rather than just an obstacle. Im not saying this is what happens to everyone but this is the vast majority. of course every case is different and even if they only rob you and dont harm you its still a very traumatic experience and would be made even more traumatic by the fact youve just killed someone. especially if by killing that someone you are rightly or wrongly (im not the one who makes the law) put in jail then its gonna ruin your life
3) chances are the criminal will be "better at violence" than you in 9 out of ten cases

 

[Agayek]

2) i wasnt saying that you wont get brutalized, what i was trying to point out was that most burglars are just trying to steal something and will only brutalize you if you happen to get in their way like i said if you fight back you become a threat rather than just an obstacle. Im not saying this is what happens to everyone but this is the vast majority. of course every case is different and even if they only rob you and dont harm you its still a very traumatic experience and would be made even more traumatic by the fact youve just killed someone. especially if by killing that someone you are rightly or wrongly (im not the one who makes the law) put in jail then its gonna ruin your life

Except you can't know that. Maybe they'll just take your stuff and leave you alone, but there's a significant chance that they'll beat you bloody and throw you down some stairs just for shits and giggles. And there's absolutely no way you can determine that ahead of time. Preemptive, overwhelming violence to stop them in their tracks, regardless of the damage done to them, is not only a rational response, it's the only sane one.

They are the ones that put themselves in that situation, the blame lies entirely with them. Don't be stupid enough to protect people from their own stupidity.

3) chances are the criminal will be "better at violence" than you in 9 out of ten cases

That's entirely possible, but then at least you'd know you did everything you could to stop them. It's a cold comfort, but it's better than nothing when you're left lying bloody and beaten on the floor of your own home.

 

[senordesol]

perhaps the way i worded it was a bit harsh but ending someones life is still ending someones life. Killing is something that is difficult even for soldiers to deal with so just imagine an average joe or josephine coming to terms with killing someone no matter how vile that human was.

like i said all incidents ive heard of the primary intent for breaking into someones house is to steal something. this is usually done at night or when a person is away. they have really fucked up if they happen to do it when someone is actually in the house. if you happen to be in they would most likely use force but if you were to fight back you are only making it worse for yourself as they now see you as a threat rather than an obstacle

i guess it just hasnt sunk in my brain how someone is deliberately doing this like in the video its just something that doesnt happen where i am, its just to messy for a burgular. I suppose in the case of this video lethal force would be a viable option (if you got a chance to use it) as the person deliberately set out to hurt you as long as you can come to terms with actually killing someone.

Off topic: i made that my username on PS3 when they first came out. i originally wanted bandit or the bandit (because i was obsessed with smokey and the bandit at the time) but they were taken and 'dont shoot the bandit' was too long so i just stuck with shoot the bandit because it sounded cool

I always found the argument that 'all life is equal' to be quite interesting. In fact, I find it more frightening than the prospect of facing an assailant. To find just as much value in one who makes his living on the suffering of others; to expect those whom he victimizes to meekly accept their fates -- that's scary.

It has nothing to do with 'material possessions', those who break into your home or assault your person are taking much more than a television or DVD Player; they are violating the sanctity and security of your abode. They are directly undermining the value of making an honest living, and an individual's ability to be secure in his own society.

While I don't agree that the penalty for these actions should be death, I fail to see how dying while committing these acts constitutes any loss of value.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Well I live in Britain, so if someone invaded my home, even if I had a weapon near me (knife, bat, club) I wouldn't be able to do anything. I'd pretty much have to let them in, make them a cup of tea and watch happily as they steal my most valued possessions, because anything else is assault and "unnecessary".

Learn what reasonable force means then, as long as you don't purposely kill or torture anyone you are fine.

EDIT: Sorry, I misread. The thing is, even if you knock an intruder out (somehow) they could most likely take you to court for assault, it's just the way things work here. The line is so blurred, because when someone's in your house trying to steal things and threatening either you or your family it's very hard to make clear judgements.

 

[shootthebandit]

2) i wasnt saying that you wont get brutalized, what i was trying to point out was that most burglars are just trying to steal something and will only brutalize you if you happen to get in their way like i said if you fight back you become a threat rather than just an obstacle. Im not saying this is what happens to everyone but this is the vast majority. of course every case is different and even if they only rob you and dont harm you its still a very traumatic experience and would be made even more traumatic by the fact youve just killed someone. especially if by killing that someone you are rightly or wrongly (im not the one who makes the law) put in jail then its gonna ruin your life

Except you can't know that. Maybe they'll just take your stuff and leave you alone, but there's a significant chance that they'll beat you bloody and throw you down some stairs just for shits and giggles. And there's absolutely no way you can determine that ahead of time. Preemptive, overwhelming violence to stop them in their tracks, regardless of the damage done to them, is not only a rational response, it's the only sane one.

They are the ones that put themselves in that situation, the blame lies entirely with them. Don't be stupid enough to protect people from their own stupidity.

3) chances are the criminal will be "better at violence" than you in 9 out of ten cases

That's entirely possible, but then at least you'd know you did everything you could to stop them. It's a cold comfort, but it's better than nothing when you're left lying bloody and beaten on the floor of your own home.

Its not necessarily the moral standpoint of them only wanting to steal your stuff and youve only killed a petty thief but take point 2 that i just made. What if someone breaks into your house and they only want to steal something and when they break into your house and you happen to be sat watching your TV. They threaten you with violence so you decide to fight back now the burglar is forced to use violence in "self defence" (i use that term VERY losely here) and he seriously injures you given that point 3 i made is relatively accurate. Chances are if you had left him alone and not stood up for yourself it would merely be an empty threat or a minor injury. So in effect you have made it worse for yourself by doing so. Like i said this isnt what happens all the time but thats the vast majority of cases. But the main point i was trying to get across through all of posts maybe not very clearly i suppose is that you could be worse of if you fight back if all they want is to rob you. Even in more seriously cases like depicted in the video can you imagine if she fought back he wouldve made it a lot worse for her if it wasnt bad enough already. Like i said in point 3 chances are the criminal whose "occupation" is violence will better you unless you spend every waken hour in the gym and have a black belt in 3 martial arts

My point about killing someone stands. If you honestly feel that you could kill a violent attacker then go ahead. But most people (and i believe myself included) wouldnt be able to cope with killing a person no matter who it was. Even more so if you live outside the USA like myself where guns are illegal (unless you are a farmer or have a specific reason) and self defense laws are strict you might even end up doing time for killing him (you could probably get away with manslaughter) and that would ruin your life